Initial plans were to establish a Joint Force Space Component Command by combining the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) and Joint Task Force–Space Defense (JTF-SD).

[3] On 16 November 2022, General James H. Dickinson, U.S Space Command commander, ordered the creation of the Combined Joint Task Force–Space Operations (CJTF-SO), under which CFSCC and JTF-SD reported.

It would be commanded with a three-star officer with the director of staff of the Space Force being downgraded to a two-star billet to make way for it.

[7] Following the confirmation of Schiess's nomination, S4S was activated on 6 December 2023 by redesignating Space Operations Command West as S4S.

Chance Saltzman and General Stephen Whiting was held to commemorate the activation of S4S.